Former spokesperson to ex President Goodluck Jonathan, Doyin Okupe who
was recently invited for questioning by EFFC, took to his Facebook wall
to explain his case with the antigraft agency. Below is what he wrote;
The facts of my case with efcc.
In my interactions with efcc I have been asked to explain 3 things only so far.
1. Why I received N50m from the Fmr NSA, at the onset of my appointment, and what I used it for.
2. Why I was being paid N10m monthly by the ONSA.
3. Why I received another N50m from the NSA in October 2014.
These are the ONLY subject of interrogation with the
commission so far.
My explanations.
1. The initial N50m was approved by the President to be paid to me from
His Security vote. N10m was to furnish my rented living apartment and
another N10m for my office.
The balance N30m was approved as take off grant.
2. The N10m I received from the ONSA monthly was to run my office, pay
salaries of staffs, including overheads, pay expenses for our numerous
press conferences, pay for publications in newspapers, magazines, local
and foreign, television programs, bulletins, and media consultants who
assist and facilitate our work. I had about 23 staff, 11 were graduates
out of which 5 were masters degrees holders. Details were submitted to
efcc.
3. The second N50m was approved again by Mr President when I reported to
him that the monthly allowance has been cut from N10m to N5m and that I
was no longer in position to keep running a 1hr NTA network program
called INSIGHT which was aired 9-10am every Friday. We paid NTA about
N1.2m monthly for airtime. The lead presenter on Insight earned N400,000
and the second presenter earned N200,000. Total N600,000. We paid for
tapes and Editting per program. Besides we also pay honorarium for
guests either directly or inform of hotel bills for those outside Abuja,
or transportation. This cost averagely N500,000 weekly or about N 2m
monthly. All in all we spend about N4m monthly on the program. Mr
President promised to help with the expenses. About a few months later
when we had incurred some debts the NSA sent me this N50m which was to
cover the cost of the program for 12 months(12×N4m=N48m)News paper Trial
I saw strange figures like N 162m fraud, 85m fraud etc. Also mention was
made of dubious payments of N13m, N65m from contracts supposedly
obtained from chachanga LGA in Niger state.The Fact.
My company Romix soilfix was one of the over 20 construction companies
who were duly awarded contracts for rural roads some 5yrs ago by the
Niger state govt. Due to lack of funds contractors were paid irregularly
making the job to drag. The job is still on going. The relationship of
this to my service as snr special assistant to President is still not
clear.My Health status.
I confided in the officers of the commission about my health situation
for them to understand why where and how I sleep was important to my
overall well being.
Without clearance or authorisation by me this information was revealed
to the media. I woke up to hear it on radio broadcast nationwide and was
published in many newspapers. This is a sad development and a definite
breach of the confidence I reposed on the commission as an institution
of government.
I was born with sinus bradycadia, a non disease based slowness of the
heart. It precluded me from vigorous exercise from childhood but I have
by God’s Grace been able to live a normal and active life. With age the
slowness grew worse and life threatening. I sought medical help and went
through a procedure at the Arrhythmia cardiac Research center in
Atlanta, where this defect was corrected. Its just a year ago and I am
still under satellite monitor from the USA. This is what I revealed to
the efcc and they made it a public issue.I have been in public service in more than 20years, because of my
pedigree, I have by deliberate policy avoided anything that will bring
shame to me, my name and family.
In spite of my high level involvement in politics and government, I have
never done directly or indirectly any federal government contracts. In
the whole of this world I have only two house. One in Lagos and another
in my home town. I have no house elsewhere including Abuja.
It us a pity that the situation in the country is so bad that everybody
believes that there are no men with honour in politics or government. It
is not true. I have submitted all my personal and company accounts to
efcc. I have nothing to hide.
I am proud of who I am and how far the Lord has taken me. My present
travails and trial will become a good testimony for me and my family in
Jesus Name.